Living at the Tower

Sustainable residential towers in the heart of Düsseldorf

With the bidding process for development plot Stromstraße 18 — 20 in Düsseldorf, the first competition was prepared in my office. The subject of the present plan is a building structure that deliberately fits into the existing city skyline and is based on the so-called Gehry buildings in Düsseldorf's media harbor, while seeking to set its own — albeit subordinate — urban planning accent in terms of design and orientation. The external dimensions of the building are therefore based on the neighboring Westdeutscher Rundfunk building. The plan is to build two so-called residential towers, which are connected by a base. The eastern tower has 15 floors and is planned with a building height of 54 m; the western one with 17 floors and therefore with a height of approx. 60 m.

The rhombus shape shown was chosen because the structure is based on the northern edge of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk building and thus creates a space situation that widens the view towards the marina.

The diamond structure in question thus also picks up on distinctive lines in the surrounding area, such as an imaginary Wilhelm-Tell-Straße — Hafen line and an imaginary Fürstenwall — Hafen line.

This not only ensures an architectural connection to the objects in the surrounding area, but the structure also fulfils a central bio and immission climate function and ensures wide air flows from the Rhine towards the city center when the building is positioned.

In addition, the building language represents a clear geometry that deliberately sets itself apart from the amorphous structures of the state parliament and the Gehry buildings in the vicinity and thus gives the overall urban planning character an additional quality, which also results from the fact that the contradiction is presented accordingly.

The balconies are also distinctive, around which a glass skeletal structure is arranged, which makes the exterior view special. The arrangement of the balconies is deliberately intended to make it possible for the observer to experience and experience different visual axes.

The standard floors have three residential units measuring approx. 80 m² of exclusive balconies. The architectural concept should be based on creating attractive residential spaces for high-quality, but for as large sections of the population as possible, which in this respect are based on the general needs of Düsseldorf.

Catering and retail space will be planned on the basement floor and a fitness area and possibly a wellness and swimming pool area on the second level.

The planning concept provides that it is also possible to use the outdoor areas for catering, so that the intermediate area is also enlivened as desired.

A daycare center with a corresponding outdoor area is also being planned on the ground floor area.

This architectural orientation should consciously take into account the fact that a building is being planned in which social interaction is promoted.

This special form of planned community building is supported by a spacious foyer. The corresponding foyer areas should be deliberately designed as places of joint interaction and coming together.

In its outer and inner structure, the building wants to document a certain restraint in the design language and thus represent an end point of the buildings at the media harbor, without even trying to question the solitary character of the Rhine Tower.

In this respect, the roof areas of the towers should provide space for the absorption of renewable energy, in particular photovoltaic systems.

Particular importance is given to the issue of e-mobility and the creation of sufficient space for bicycle mobility and the like.

The construction should be barrier-free.